The roof is the top part of a building or house that protects against rain, snow, sunlight and extreme temperatures. It also helps drain water away from the structure.

Metal roofs come in a range of prices from moderate (steel) to very expensive (copper). There are also some new options that are supposed to look like wooden shakes or slate, but they can be quite pricey.

A shingle roof is the first thing anyone notices about your home. It adds curb appeal, but it’s also one of the most durable parts of your house, able to keep rain and snow from seeping through the structure. Whether your home is built from shingles, metal, or other materials, it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance to ensure the integrity of the roof.

Wooden shingles can improve the aesthetic of any design style, but they’re perfect for cottages and coastal houses. They create a rustic look and feel connected to nature. Wooden shingles are also eco-friendly, with less carbon emissions during manufacturing.

Shingles can become damaged by weather, animals, and foot traffic. If the shingle’s adhesive layer becomes compromised, it will allow water to leak through the roof. This can be a problem even with new shingles. It may indicate a poor quality shingle or improper installation by your contractor.

Another common shingle issue is the appearance of ripples or waves in your roof. These are caused by sheathing problems, which can happen if the carpenters or roofers didn’t leave enough space between boards for expansion and contraction. It can also occur if the plywood was exposed to moisture and wasn’t covered with a waterproof underlayment before being attached to the roof.

The shingles themselves can also develop issues due to poor craftsmanship or environmental factors. For example, if the sheathing was installed incorrectly or the fasteners weren’t tightened correctly, it can cause wavy roof panels.

It’s important to choose a qualified roofing contractor to avoid these problems. Check that the company you choose is licensed, insured, and has positive references. They should also have a good reputation on referral sites like HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List.

It’s also important to wear the right footwear when walking on a shingle roof. High-heeled shoes can damage the shingles, while shoes with large treads are safer. You should also avoid hiking boots, which have a knobby design that will more easily scratch the shingles. A soft-soled shoe such as tennis or basketball shoes will work best.

Underlayment

A roof’s underlayment is a crucial layer that often gets overlooked, but this important component offers significant protection for your home. It is a backup barrier to keep water out, and it provides additional protection during construction or in case the outer roofing material becomes damaged. The type of underlayment you choose may also have an impact on your warranty coverage.

Roofing underlayment is installed directly onto the wooden boards known as your roof’s sheathing. These may be pine or fir boards, depending on your specific structure. During new construction or a reroofing project, the sheathing will have a vapor barrier, which is designed to prevent moisture from entering the roof system. This will help reduce the risk of mold, rot, and other problems in the interior of your home.

The sheathing may also have plastic caps attached, which help prevent water from entering through nail holes and other small openings in the wood. The underlayment is then fastened to the sheathing with a minimum of two nails. For high-wind areas or with synthetics, the fasteners will have plastic gaskets that prevent leaks.

Before the advent of modern synthetic underlayment, felt paper was a common choice. Felt paper is still available today, but it is not the most durable option. Most roofing installation contractors prefer to use non-bitumen synthetic underlayment, which is made from hard-wearing materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

This type of underlayment is also easier to install than asphalt-saturated felt. It also provides more resistance to UV rays and moisture than felt paper. This makes it a great option for homes in areas prone to severe weather conditions.

Another benefit of using a synthetic underlayment is that it is less prone to tearing than felt. Even so, it can be damaged by wind or rain if not properly installed. This is why it is important to have your roof underlayment installed by a professional. A professional will know how to install the underlayment correctly, as well as how much to overlap it for maximum water resistance. They will also ensure that there are no large gaps or tears.

Flashing

A key component of a roofing system, flashing provides a waterproof barrier to prevent water penetration and leaks. It’s installed at vulnerable areas like roof valleys and around chimneys, skylights, vent pipes, and other roof penetrations. It also helps to direct rainwater away from these areas, preventing damage to the underlying materials and structure of the building. Flashing is made from durable materials, such as metal or rubber, that can withstand harsh weather conditions and resist corrosion.

There are several types of flashing, each designed for different situations. Some are exposed and others are embedded. Typically, exposed flashing is made of metal and can be found in areas that are easily visible, such as the valleys of roofs or around window and door openings. Embedded flashing is made of non-metal and is used to waterproof protrusions from walls, such as pipes or cables.

Other types of flashing include step flashing, which is used where a wall and roof meet to form a joint. It’s often a rectangular sheet of metal that overlaps the roof and forms a trough that diverts water down the wall. Valley flashing is another type of flashing that’s used where two sloping roof planes intersect. This requires careful design and installation to ensure that the flashing is not directed toward the roof and creates a leaky seal.

For roofs in high-wind regions, it’s important that flashing be constructed to withstand uplift and provide a strong, durable barrier against wind-driven water penetration. This is achieved by using higher gauge metal flashing and ensuring that it’s securely attached to the wall, avoiding separation. It’s also crucial that the flashing is installed with adequate expansion and contraction joints to allow it to accommodate movement without breaking or deforming.

Other specialty flashings include breathable flashing, which is designed to provide ventilation and prevent moisture build-up in the roof cavity, as well as frost-proof flashing, which is a special membrane that’s shaped to withstand freezing temperatures. These types of flashings are typically installed around protrusions from a roof, such as pipes or vents, but they can be used on other parts of the building.

Gutters

Gutters may seem like an afterthought to homeowners, but they are crucial to the integrity of your roof and home. They collect and direct rainwater away from the home, keeping it from flooding or seeping into basements and crawl spaces, as well as from rotting the foundation of your house over time. Gutters also keep water from soaking the shingles and underlayment of your roof, which can lead to a number of problems including water damage, mold growth, and premature roof failure.

Gutter systems are essentially half-pipes that run along the edge of your roof to collect and redirect water into downspouts, which empty into a drainage system or a hose for use on lawns or gardens. Some gutters can even be redirected into a cistern, which can then reclaim the water for reuse or for your home’s plumbing needs.

When a gutter becomes clogged with leaves, sticks, and debris, it won’t be able to function as intended. This leads to a variety of issues, including water overflow and roof leaks. In addition, the excess moisture that results from clogged gutters can foster the growth of mildew and mold, which can compromise indoor air quality.

If the gutters aren’t positioned correctly, or they are damaged or misaligned, it can cause them to overflow and back up onto the eaves of your house. This can damage the siding and rot the wood around the wall, leaving it exposed to moisture-related problems such as pathogens, aggressive termites, and mold.

Gutters also protect the fascia and soffit, which are exposed wood at the edges of the roof overhang, from water-related damage. When rainwater is allowed to saturate these components, they can become weak and rot, or they could be pecked by aggressive birds and other wildlife. Gutters prevent this by directing rainwater into the drainage system, where it can be removed properly before affecting the walls of your house. They can also help protect the wood and other components of your house from fungi, which can be particularly harmful if they are in contact with a moist environment such as the inside of a house.